Battle of Marj Ayyun

Battle of Marj Ayyun
	Part of the Crusades
	; Saladin the Victorious. Gustave Doré, XIX century
Date	10 June 1179
Location	Marjayoun, Mount Lebanon, Principality of Galilee of the Kingdom of Jerusalem
Result	Ayyubid victory
Belligerents
Kingdom of Jerusalem; Knights Templar	Ayyubid Dynasty
Commanders and leaders
Baldwin IV of Jerusalem; Raymond III of Tripoli ; Odo of St Amand (POW)	Saladin ; Sabek ad-Din ; Ibn Jender ; Izz ad-din
Strength
	1,000 Lancers
Casualties and losses
	Heavy Many dead and wounded; 70+ captured;

The Battle of Marj Ayyun was a military confrontation fought at Marj Ayyun near the Litani River (modern-day Lebanon) in June 1179 between the Kingdom of Jerusalem under Baldwin IV and the Ayyubid armies under the leadership of Saladin. It ended in a decisive victory for the Muslims and is considered the first in the long series of Islamic victories under Saladin against the Christians. However, the Christian King, Baldwin IV of Jerusalem, who was crippled by leprosy, was saved by his bodyguard and narrowly escaped capture.